Five-try Glasgow cruise past Zebre and go top of URC
Huw Jones was a threat to the Italian side's defence all night
- Published
United Rugby Championship
Glasgow (21) 33
Tries: Matthews, Dobie, H Jones (2), Stewart Cons: Hastings (4)
Zebre (3) 3
Pen: Da Re
Glasgow Warriors moved top of the United Rugby Championship table with a five-try victory over Zebre at Scotstoun.
The defending champions took control in the first half with tries from Johnny Matthews, Jamie Dobie and Huw Jones.
Jones added another after the break and Grant Stewart came off the bench to score the fifth try and round off a comfortable night's work for the Warriors.
Franco Smith's side now head for South Africa, where they will face the Sharks and the Stormers.
The home side were in almost complete control throughout and Matthews got the ball rolling, touching down for the opening score after a typically efficient rolling line-out maul.
Zebre were back under their own sticks just a few minutes later when a fine offloading move involving Jones and George Horne among others ended with Dobie crossing in the corner.
The last time the Italian side were in Glasgow in May they gave Warriors a real fright before going down 38-26, but they offered far less resistance here and Jones powered over after a period of pressure for Glasgow's third try.
The Scotland centre added his second after the break, coming in on a nice angle to glide through untouched under the posts to secure the bonus point.
The Zebre dam was well and truly burst and substitute hooker Stewart rumbled over the line at the back of another maul to put Glasgow 33-3 to the good.
Jones then claimed a loose ball and set Rory Darge surging free and although the flanker could have run it in himself, he unselfishly laid it on a plate for Horne to touch down. However, on this occasion the TMO spotted an infringement in the build-up and the score was ruled out.
Warriors took their foot off the gas in the closing stages, perhaps mindful of the demands in South Africa in the next two rounds, but the hard work had been done.
It was a professional performance and a win that moves them above Leinster - who play Munster at Croke Park on Saturday – to the summit of the URC table.
'I'm really proud of them'
Glasgow coach Franco Smith:
"We were professional, workmanlike. I think we were very good both sides of the ball, the set-piece was very good.
"Some opportunities we left out there but that is good at this part of the season. As long as we create them for now, that is the important thing.
"The boys that came in tonight that haven't been involved in the previous two games stepped up, took the baton on and I'm really proud of them."
Glasgow: Rowe, Dobie, Jones, McDowall (c), Cordero, Hastings, Horne; Bhatti, Matthews, Fagerson, Brown, Cummings, Ferrie, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Stewart, McBeth, Schickerling, Samuel, Williamson, Venter, Afshar, Jordan.
Zebre: Prisciantelli, Trulla, Paea, Gregory, Gesi, Da Re, Garcia; Rizzoli, Ribaldi, Nocera, Krumov, Zambonin, Ferrari, Andreani, Licata (c).
Replacements: Bigi, Taddei, Neculai, Canali, Bianchi, Fusco, Mazza, Cambriani.